April 21, 2010

Democrat lawmakers killed legislation sponsored by Sen. Radogno to limit Illinois’ Seniors Ride Free program to the state’s lowest-income seniors, and allow all senior citizens to ride at half fare. Radogno said the measure could have saved Illinois $50 million annually, which would forestall service cuts and rate hikes on all riders.

“This is one more example of why state government is nearly bankrupt. There is no reason why a senior citizen making $150,000 a year should ride the Metra free-of-charge, while a single mom making $22,000 a year pays to ride the ‘el’ to work,” Radogno said.

The senator explained that House Bill 4654 would have tied the free rides for seniors program to the same qualifications that are in place for the state’s Circuit Breaker program. Citizens who are 65 or older living in a one-person household with an annual income of $27,610 or less, or a two-person household that brings in less than $36,635, would  have qualified for free transportation on Metra, PACE and the CTA.

Radogno noted that even if a senior citizen exceeds the income limits for a free ride, they would have only been required to pay half price for the fare.

“An estimated 30 percent of senior citizens currently enrolled in the program would have continued to ride free of charge, and the remaining seniors would have benefited from a half-price discount—the same discount they received before the free rides program was implemented,” explained Radogno.

Illinois’ Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has consistently struggled to stay on top of its financial obligations, and RTA authorities say the Seniors Ride Free program creates an additional burden. Talks of eliminating routes, layoffs and fare hikes have once-again forced lawmakers to reexamine the controversial free rides program, which was advanced by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2008.

“It’s not helping our seniors—or anyone for that matter—if their routes are eliminated and their services are slashed,” said Radogno. “Income-based limits are a reasonable way to ensure the state’s poorest senior citizens will continue to benefit from the program, while also saving much-needed revenue.”

Sen. Radogno sponsored similar legislation last year, but that too was stalled by the Democrat majority in committee.